Frequently Asked Questions

If you own a structure buildt before 1978, you likely have lead based paint. Although lead based paint was banned in the US in 1978, lead paint is reportedly still found in approximately 60% of all structures (homes, day care centers, schools, commercial buildings, etc.) in the US and increases to over 80% in the major population centers. Lead is a highly toxic metal and the leading cause of childhood lead poisoning.Learn more about lead hazards. Anyone who comes in contact with lead based paint through dust, peeling and chipping paint, or during renovation and remodeling activities can benefit from using LeadDefender® including, but not limited to:

• Homeowners
• Property Managers
• Pre-school/Daycare Providers
• RRP Contractors
• Industrial/Commercial Contractors
• Demolition Contractors

To best test the adhesion of LeadDefender® to your surface and to confirm compatability with any top coat over LeadDefender®, you must perform a "Cross Hatch Adhesions." Instructions on how to complete this test are below.

Yes, LeadDefender® provides cost-effective solutions for typical interior and exterior lead paint projects such as:

• Lead Paint Renovation (buildings, structures, tanks, etc.)
• Prior to Lead Paint Component Removal (peeling and chipping lead paint)
• Lead Paint Demolition (bridges, buildings, siding, windows, doors, etc.)
• Disaster Recovery (to address lead paint/dust issues)

LeadDefender® is also mold, mildew and fire resistant!

Bitrex® is an extremely Bitter tasting substance, recognized as the most bitter substance by the Guinness Book of World Records. When added to ECOBOND® Lead Defender®, will help discourage oral contact with lead contained surfaces that ECOBOND® Lead Defender® is applied to.

LeadDefender® Standard: 6-8 ounces of liquid colorant may be added per gallon.

Yes, LeadDefender® is tested to reduce airborne lead by up to 99%.

No, ECOBOND® is not classified as an encapsulant. ECOBOND® Lead Defender® is a treatment that seals lead paint and is classified as an interim control method.

LeadDefender® uses the patented LeadDefender® treatment technology, which has been used to successfully treat over 1,000,000 tons of lead contaminated waste, soil and lead paint. The patented formula uses a phosphate-based reagent that has a natural affinity to lead, creating a lead phosphate mineral compound that is scientifically known to be one of nature’s most durable lead minerals. The strength and effectiveness of LeadDefender® stabilization has been verified using the EPA's TCLP test parameters on well over 100,000 samples and through the EPA Multiple Extraction Procedure (MEP) tests that is designed to represent 1,000 years or “a very long time”.

As a result of the LeadDefender® sealing and treatment feature, lead hazards in the environmental are greatly reduced as is the relative human lead absorption into blood streams resulting from ingestion (bioavailability/ bioaccessibility); following testing to EPA Standard Operating Procedure 9100.1-86 (November 2008).  

What is TCLP?

TCLP (Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure) is designed to determine the mobility of both organic and inorganic analytes present in liquid, solid, and multiphasic wastes. This is usually used to determine if a waste may meet the definition of hazardous waste under RCRA (40 CFR Part 261).

Typical LeadDefender® Treatment Results – Toxicity Chemical Leaching Procedure (TCLP)

 What is MEP?

MEP (Multiple Extraction Procedure) is designed to simulate 1,000 years of leaching that a waste will undergo from repetitive precipitation of acid rain on an improperly designed sanitary landfill. The repetitive extractions reveal the highest concentration of each constituent that is likely to leach in a natural environment.

Typical LeadDefender® Treatment Results – MEP Testing

Yes. LeadDefender® is widely specified by agencies nationwide and has been approvedby many government agencies such as DOD, USACE, NOAA, FAA, and Colorado DOT, just to name a few.

LeadDefender® costs less than 25¢/sf; the product is easily applied with brush, roller or sprayer, typically at coverage of 6-8 wet mil’s providing average coverage of 300 sq ft per gal.

Air and surface temperature should be between 50-100 degrees F.

LeadDefender® Hybrid: 4-8 hours to touch, 12-16 hours to topcoat

LeadDefender® Standard: 2-4 hours to touch, 4-8 hours to topcoat

NOTE: cooler temperatures or high humidity may prolong dry times

The 20 year warranty offered with regard to HUD encapsulation was intended to insure long term performance of the encapsulation products to provide a barrier between the lead-based paint and the environment, a good idea in concept.

However, a warranty is only as good as the exclusions that void the warranty. Careful reviews of disclaimers for firms offering a 20 year warranty contain multiple exclusions. In particular please note that the first exclusion relates to the user’s responsibility to ensure that all preparation and application procedures as specified by manufacturer and HUD Guidelines for the Evaluation and Control of Lead-Based Paint Hazards in Housing (2012 Edition) are followed and documented. Then there is typically an exclusion related to ongoing monitoring of the coated surface and immediate repairs being performed and also being documented. In addition, be aware that the remedy under the warranty is generally limited only to product replacement if there is proof of proper application and ongoing maintenance and repair. In reality, a standard paint warranty covering defects in workmanship and faulty product performance provides a similar level of protection.

What type of warranty is provided by LeadDefender®?

LeadDefender® provides an industry standard paint warranty that Products are free from defects in material and workmanship under normal use and proper storage without exclusions for HUD specified preparation and application documentation, ongoing monitoring, or documented immediate repairs.

How does LeadDefender® compare to a typical encapsulant product?

No. LeadDefender® is a unique patented product that provides a robust multi-use lead paint remediation product. Designed to be used in conjunction with lead paint removal methods or “Paint it on & Leave it on.” Unlike some expensive epoxy encapsulates, it contains no harmful solvents, has a high coverage rate and provides for sealing and treating lead dust and lead in lead paint.

Typical uses of LeadDefender® include:

• All-in-One Interior Primer and Tintable Topcoat
• Exterior Primer with Latex Topcoat
• Interior/Exterior Primer plus Standard Epoxy Encapsulant
• Interior/Exterior Sealant Prior to Lead Paint Removal
• Interior/Exterior Sealant and Treatment Prior to Demolition and Non-Hazardous Disposal
• Interior/Exterior Treatment Prior to Non-Hazardous Disposal (paint chips, remodeling debris, etc.)

LeadDefender® is formulated with a patented blend of paint softeners and penetrators to promote adherence and penetration of multiple paint layers. While each application may have unique existing conditions, LeadDefender® is tested to be able to penetrate existing paint layers.

Interim Lead Hazard Control is commonly defined by US EPA/HUD and many state agencies as: “to reduce temporarily human exposure or likely exposure to lead-based paint hazards including specialized cleaning, repairs, maintenance, painting, temporary containment.” [42 USC Chapter 63A – Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction 01/03/2012 (112-90)]

LeadDefender®, when applied as directed to interior or exterior structurally sound substrate, qualifies for use during Interim Control by providing lead hazard reduction as part of repair, lead maintenance, lead dust control, and painting as a sealant and primer or interior top coat.

Yes, LeadDefender® is tested (ASTM E84) to be fire resistant with the highest rating available: Flame Spread of “0”, Smoke Developed “0” NFPA/BC Class A Coating.

Yes, LeadDefender® is tested (ASTM D5590-00 modified) to be mold and mildew resistant.

1) Remove any flaked or peeling paint from the masonry. Make sure you follow lead safe work practices!

2) Clean the brick wall. Masonry like all other surfaces needs to be cleaned before painting to ensure the best adherance.

3) Apply a masonry sealer to the wall. Masonry sealer will help with the porous texture to allow for better sticking.

4) Apply LeadDefender® to seal and treat lead based paints as an exterior primer or interior primer and topcoat.

No. LeadDefender® does not remove your lead rather it converts it to a form that it is longer leachable or mobile and therefore less hazardous to humans and the environment.
The US EPA uses specific laboratory methods to measure the hazardous toxicity characteristics of lead in paint or other materials.

The laboratory methods used are EPA Method 1311 followed by EPA Method 6010b.

Together these laboratory methods are known as the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure or TCLP and are designed to measure the mobility and therefore potential hazardous nature of lead in the environment.

Specifically, results are used to determine if a material or waste meets the criteria of a hazardous waste under RCRA (40 CFR Part 261). As an example, if results obtained by using 1311/6010b are above 5.0 mg/L lead then the material tested is considered hazardous in terms of leachability. In contrast, if results obtained are below 5.0 mg/L lead then the material is not considered hazardous in regards to lead under RCRA.

A common misconception is painting with regular paint over lead based paint takes care of the problem. LeadDefender® is much more than just paint – LeadDefender® seals and treats lead dust and lead based paint; is fire, mold and mildew resistant; and is tested to reduce the relative lead bioavailability (the body’s ability to absorb lead) by up to 75%.

Approximately 300 sf/gallon depending on surface porosity. Standard application is one coat at 4-6 mils wet. If mulitiple layers of lead paint are present, a second coat of LeadDefender® may be applied; allow paint to dry (4 hours) prior to applying a second coat.

Titanium Dioxide (TiO₂)

TiO2 is a naturally occurring material used in a wide range of applications from paint to sunscreen, medicines, toothpaste and food coloring. In paint, it is used in two-thirds of all pigments world-wide because of its whiteness and opacity. While typically considered safe for consumer use in food products, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified TiO₂ as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Classification 2B). Their summary concludes: "No significant exposure to titanium dioxide is thought to occur during the use of products in which titanium dioxide is bound to other materials, such as paint.” This classification is primarily relevant when exposed to TiO₂ in fine dust or powder form only.

TiO₂ is approved by the FDA for use in cosmetics, drugs, medical devices, and indirect food additives, such as tooth paste.